Abstract

This chapter draws on an extensive literature review to provide an analysis of digital inclusion within minority community or group contexts with a specific focus on the take-up of digital technologies within communities of disabled people. First, it illustrates the complexity of digital inclusion and suggests that a community-based approach, whilst problematic, may offer some benefits. Then, it discusses the case of minority communities and specifically the example of people with disabilities that reveals the importance of digital inclusion for strengthening vulnerable to social exclusion communities, enhancing their within and between ‘connectedness’ and responding to perceived problems of social exclusion and limited social or community cohesion. At the same time, it points to evidence that physical, economic, educational/skills, psychological, cultural and political barriers potentially prevent disabled people from fully appropriating digital technologies. It concludes that there is a real need for more in-depth longitudinal studies of the effects of digital inclusion on the connectivity of minority communities such as people with disabilities.

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Book Section

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